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What's your beef or choice for a boilermaker made with Laphroaig?Originally Posted by Matt Reynolds
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Heh, maybe if I had more top shelf liquor I'd be more liberal with its use. Sounds like you have a nice collection.
When it's stated as Hendricks and vinegar, it doesn't sound foofy - but in the context of a drink, "a nice balsamic" and basil are clearly gateway ingredients. ;-)
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When the subject of the RN comes up manliness is generally in question unless the era is circa Admiral Lord Nelson.
DRLVEGAS
Makers Mark old fashioned.
If you don't know how to make one...
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I say that, if it has real ingredients and isn't cloyingly sweet (and the latter might still be fine if the sweetness comes with acid, bitterness, or strong herbal qualities/aromatics and it's meant to be sipped very occasionally in very small quantities or used as an ingredient in cocktails), it's manly because real ingredients are grown up and men are grownups.foofy
Except for things made with something with a strong, sweet flavor mixed with vodka because the drinker doesn't want his palate to detect he's drinking alcohol. That is how a child drinks, not a man or a woman.
Real basil is a pretty complex, grown-up flavor. I have no idea why one would consider it "foofy". Same with a good balsamic, which is actually a brilliant ingredient in many desserts and serves the same purpose as citrus by lending an acidic brightness with interesting aromatic qualities. I can see how it might work well in a gin-based cocktail.
The only quibble I have with Matt's Bella Morte recipe is the agave nectar. I would probably use a brown sugar simple syrup instead. But it seems well balanced, not too sweet, and full of good aromas to me. And my taste in drink routinely makes men feel unmanly.
It's sharp and clean and delicious, but it requires moderation in consumption, which makes it extra manly.Goddamn. That sounds Manly.
Those are not Ladies' drinks. They're children's drinks.
Although I disagree on the daiquiri. A real daiquiri is simplicity itself: light rum, lime juice, simple syrup to taste (which, in my case, is not very much). It is a grown-up combination of acid, sweet, and aromatic. But what gets called a "daiquiri" in most bars in North America is shit. The daiquiri is also a great platform for other grown-up variations. I like to make them with light rum from sugarcane juice (vs. from molasses), which has a fresh, grassy flavor, and add some kind of aromatic accent using a fresh herb: basil, cilantro, tarragon, thyme, etc. Those with good spice tolerance should try floating a couple slivers of habanero/scotch bonnet pepper in it for the floral/peppery notes.
I actually adore one negroni. I can't drink more than one because of the sweetness.
Hey now, I like bitter herbals. My beef with Campari is that it has too much sugar, and since they stopped using cochineal, the red color isn't quite so romantic anymore. But a Campari and soda with orange garnish is a perfectly civilized alternative to a gin and tonic.
I know you're not a fan of strong bitter tastes, but some of us are quite fond of them. I wish more bitter herbals came in less sugary variations, but for obvious reasons, they don't. I've thought about making my own by infusing vodka or everclear.
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How did all of the quotes in Simma's post get attributed to me???
I stand by basil and balsamic on a cocktail giving the appearance of foofy-ness. But note that I did say I'll try one when summer gets here - should only be 5 or 6 more months now....
I love Campari, and am not above ordering a negroni for that matter.
I still can't quite abide by pouring perfectly good Islay malts into a glass of beer... but maybe that's just because I'm not awash in the stuff.
Damn it, now I'm thirsty.
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I don't think "nectar" can ever be manly.
DRLVEGAS
At least not in a good way.
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You can call it "bigass cactus juice" if you prefer.
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Once you make it into tequila, it certainly qualifies as manly. Now "yeast" certainly has some un-manly connotations...
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